Video content displaying schemes

Abstract

In one example embodiment, a method performed under control of an apparatus includes dividing video content into a plurality of sections; selecting a plurality of candidate thumbnail images in each of the sections; transmitting, to a plurality of end devices, the plurality of candidate thumbnail images serially, along with the video content; receiving, from the plurality of end devices, user input to select various ones of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images; and changing a display time period of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images, based on the received user input.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method performed under control of an apparatus, comprising:
 dividing video content into a plurality of sections;   selecting a plurality of candidate thumbnail images in each of the sections;   transmitting, to a plurality of end devices, the plurality of candidate thumbnail images serially, along with the video content;   receiving, from the plurality of end devices, user input to select various ones of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images; and   changing a display time period of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images, based on the received user input.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying, from among the plurality of candidate thumbnail images, the candidate thumbnail image that has a greatest display time period as a representative thumbnail image in each of the sections; and   transmitting, to another end device, the video content and the representative thumbnail image.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transmitting, to the other end device, an application configured to edit at least one of the video content or the representative thumbnail image in each of the sections.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the changing of the display time period of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images is based on a number of times each of the sections has been played, and
 wherein the number increases for the selected candidate thumbnail image when the selected candidate thumbnail image causes the sections to be played for more than a predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is determined based on a total playing time of each of the sections. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the changing of the display time period of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images is based on a number of times each of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images is selected. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sections includes one or more frames, and
 wherein the dividing of the video content into the plurality of sections is based on at least one of pixel data or audio data of the one or more frames.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a video divider configured to divide video content into a plurality of sections;   a candidate thumbnail manager configured to determine a plurality of candidate thumbnail images in each of the sections;   a transmitter configured to transmit, to a plurality of end devices, the plurality of candidate thumbnail images serially, along with the video content;   a receiver configured to receive, from the plurality of end devices, user input to select various ones of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images; and   a representative thumbnail manager configured to identify a representative thumbnail image in each of the sections from among the plurality of candidate thumbnail images, based on the user input.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to change a display time period of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images, based on the user inputs. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to increase a number of times each of the sections has been played for the selected candidate thumbnail image when the selected candidate thumbnail image causes the sections to be played for more than a predetermined amount of time, and
 wherein the representative thumbnail manager is configured to identify the representative thumbnail image based on the number of times each of the sections has been played.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is determined based on a total playing time of each of the sections. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the representative thumbnail manager is configured to identify the representative thumbnail image, based on a number of times each of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images is selected. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of sections includes one or more frames, and
 wherein the section divider is configured to divide the video content into the plurality of sections, based on at least one of pixel data or audio data of the one or more frames.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a representative thumbnail transmitter configured to transmit, to another end device, an application configured to edit at least one of the video content or the representative thumbnail image in each of the sections.   
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a video playing device configured to:
 play video content, 
 display serially, a plurality of candidate thumbnail images in each of multiple sections that constitute the video content, and 
 transmit user input to select at least one candidate thumbnail image from among the plurality of candidate thumbnail images; and 
   a video manager configured to:
 divide the video content into the multiple sections, 
 select the plurality of candidate thumbnail images in each of the multiple sections, 
 transmit, to the video playing device, the plurality of candidate thumbnail images serially, along with the video content, and 
 change a display time period of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images, based on the user input. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the video playing device is further configured to:
 play a section that includes the selected candidate thumbnail image from among the multiple sections, upon receiving the user input, and   transmit, to the video manager, time information that indicates playing time during which the section has been played.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the video manager is further configured to identify the candidate thumbnail image that has a greatest display time period as a representative thumbnail image in each of the sections, and
 wherein the video manager is further configured to transmit, to another device, the video content and the representative thumbnail image in each of the multiple sections.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the video manager is further configured to transmit, to another device, an application configured to edit at least one of the video content or the representative thumbnail image in each of the multiple sections. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each of the multiple sections includes one or more frames, and
 wherein the video manager is configured to divide the video content into the multiple of sections, based on at least one of pixel data or audio data of the one or more frames.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the video manager is configured to change the display time period of the plurality of candidate thumbnail images, based on a number of times each of the at least one candidate thumbnail image is selected.